Ballykissangel - Complete Series Six (2001)

There's a sad goodbye and new arrivals in Ballykissangel: Quigley, the irrepressible entrepreneur has departed suddenly, but Australian priest, Father Vincent Sheahan, has joined the fold and is soon learning the ways of the villagers. From Dermot's online confessional (which is promptly stopped from a mysterious email from God!) to a surprise takeover at the pub, and further shenanigans with Liam and Donal, there's every reason to return to the idyllic village.

Makes You Sad There is no Seventh Series

The character development just gets better and better in the sixth series of Ballykissangel. There are the old favorites such as Liam and Donald plus Kathleen and Father Mack but we are treated to a new, dynamic Australian priest and the exceptionally portrayed life of the Dooly's (new pub managers). Additionally, like a breath of fresh air, a stable manager named Avril appears on the scene bringing with her top notch acting and a rich character perfectly in line with the theme of the series.

You can see where the directors are taking the series and it leaves the viewer equally enthralled as from the days of Asumpta (the original pub owner in series one). I find this rarely happens with a successful series as they tend to become rather silly over time but not so with BallyK. The attention paid to each character's development shows and they never resort to cheap laughs or overly outrageous scenarios.

Sadly, this is the last BallyK series ever to be produced and it still remains somewhat of a mystery as to why the BBC did not choose to continue the show. You really get the sense that they could have continued for several more series before the material became too tired. In fact, seeing the sixth series leaves the viewer desperately wanting a continuation but it is simply not to be.

At least we have the chance to own the entire series now and I'm sure it will bring many years of enjoyment to those wishing to indulge in the that perfect combination of subtle but gripping story line and a level of acting which often has us forgetting that the characters are, in fact, actors. July 14, 2008

Darker side of Bally K

I love this series,but this Series 6 has taken a deeper look into life in Bally K. Some new characters showed up with no explanation of their reason to be in town. One of the things I really liked was being able to follow characters through the series. I am sorry to see the demise of Ballykissangel,but I will remember it as an intimate peek into the life of a small Irish town,and it's folks. Wonderful cast members,and totally believable. April 14, 2008

Good, but incomplete

Thought the writers did a great job dealing with the changes. I was suprised when I came to the end of disc 2 however, that there seemed to be no real ending. It just trails off and leaves you wondering what happens to father mac and other characters. December 18, 2007

BallyK tries to move on after Tony Doyle's passing.

What sort of person are you? Do you relish variety or prefer the TV shows, musical artists, actresses you like to be recognizably the same over their runs, careers? The answer to that will determine whether you relish the changes introduced for series six of Ballykissangel, as the following exit the show: Sean Dillon (Lorcan Cranitch), Emma Dillon (Kate McEnery), Father Aidan O'Connell (Don Wycherley), Orla O'Connell (Victoria Smurfit), Danny Byrne (Colin Farrell), and Brian Quigley (Tony Doyle) who, arguably, was the franchise character and driving force of the entire show. Mr. Doyle passed away in January of 2000, just after the last episode of the fifth year of BallyK was broadcast (in December of 1999). There were no more episodes of BallyK until the spring of 2001 at which time series six (the first of 8 episodes) began to be broadcast. Item one of this final year thus was explaining the absence of Brian Quigley, dealing with that and then trying to move on without this central character. Of course, it's still BallyK and a welcoming program to watch, but at one and the same time, not the same anymore without the fulcrum (raison d'être even), of the whole program.

Series Six Episodes

Episode One - God.com
Brian Quigley goes missing & there's a new online confessional.

Episode Two - Drink
Father Vincent, the new parish priest buys Fitzgerald's Pub AND gets caught for drink driving!


Episode Three - The Cat and Daddy G
Grainne Dooley receives a goat for her birthday and the residents of Ballyk go to the races.

Episode Four - Spirit Proof
Talk of Ghosts and fishing problems, meanwhile Kathleen learns to drive.

Episode Five - Paul Dooley Sleeps with the Fishes
A stranger in town turns out to be from Avril's past. And the famous Fitzgerald's Bar might be in for a name change.

Episode Six - In a Jam
Vincent is in charge of this year's parish fête and something appears to be bothering Siobhan.

Episode Seven - Getting Better all the Time
An old friend of Vincent's arrives in Ballykissangel and Liam and Donal have to decide what to do with Quigley's money.

Episode Eight - Smoke Signals
Father Mac confronts Vincent when he finds out that Lyn and Barry are married. June 4, 2007

More reviews at Amazon.com ...